Geranium plant named ‘Pacsalpri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Pacsalpri’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; and double pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Pacsalpri’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Pacsalpri’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new double-flower type Zonal Geraniumcultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2000 of two unnamedproprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. Thecultivar Pacsalpri was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Dresden, Germany since December,2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Pacsalpri has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pacsalpri’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pacsalpri’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Double pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium×hortorum cultivar Pacsalkom, disclosed in a U.S. PlantPatent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differedfrom plants of the cultivar Pacsalkom in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were taller than plants of        the cultivar Pacsalkom.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium were slightly        lighter green in color than leaves of plants of the cultivar        Pacsalkom.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a distinct        zonation pattern whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar        Pacsalkom did not have a distinct zonation pattern.    -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the cultivar Pacsalkom        differed slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacsalpri’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-coveredgreenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial Geranium production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., nighttemperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to100 kilolux. Plants were about four months old when the photograph wastaken, and plants were about six months old when the description wastaken. In the detailed description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Pacsalpri.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days            at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely            foliated. Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal            branching habit with about five lateral branches developing            per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Color: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate; imbricate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; rough.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            Slightly lighter than 147A; venation, 147B. Developing and            fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B; venation, 147B.            Zonation pattern: Distinct. Distance from margin: About            5 mm. Width: About 2 cm. Color: 147A. Petiole: Length: About            7 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent; rough. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.            Flowers face upright to outward; flowers open like rose and            become mostly flat with development. Flowers persistent.            Flowers not fragrant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about eight            flower umbels per plant each with about 25 flower buds and            open flowers.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from            April until frost in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten            days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on            the plant.        -   Umbel height.—About 7 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Rounded. Color: 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About 20. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower sur            faces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: 52C; color fading towards the            margin; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, 52A.            Color becoming closer to 56A with development. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: 56D; color fading towards            the margin; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, 56D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about three. Length:            About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Acute            to rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: 52C; towards the            base, close to 155D; venation, 52A. Color becoming closer to            56A with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: 56D; towards the base, close to 155D; venation,            56D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect to outwardly            slanted. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Tubular. Anther color: Brownish. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Golden brown. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape:            Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 60A. Style length: About            3 mm. Style color: Close to 60C. Ovary color: Close to 148B.        -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about    35° C.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacsalpri’ asillustrated and described.